Alliance for a Just Society affiliates organized actions in response to the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, helping to frame the debate moving forward. Here are a few highlights of the coverage from Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Main Street Alliance:
NEVADA–Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN)
My News 3, NBC southern Nevada–Affordable Care Act ruling gives many guide to insurance
More than 560,000 Nevadans do not have health insurance. But soon, those people will get coverage either by buying it or getting it through subsidized care like Medicaid.
Reno Gazette Journal–Health ruling has big impact on Nevada
Bob Fulkerson of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada said he believed the court’s decision was a great victory for families and businesses in the U.S.
“It’s going to mean that health care costs will go down and more people are going to get covered,” Fulkerson said.
He said that, according to PLAN Nevada calculations, 91,000 people will be eligible for Medicaid in 2014, which he said would be a $327 million cost in 2015.
“That means hospitals, doctors, nurses and local economies will get a huge boost and people will stay healthy,” Fulkerson said. “It boggles my mind that people would be opposed to that.”
OREGON: Oregon Action
Fox 12 Oregon: Local reaction to Supreme Court healthcare decision
http://www.kptv.com/video?clipId=7450602&autostart=true
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Health Reforms Supporters Celebrate ‘Victory’ in Portland
“I have two adult sons, a 21 year old and a 25 year old. I had to take the 21 year old to the hospital about three weeks ago because he got in a car accident,” said Ron Williams, who heads Oregon Action, a non-profit that lobbies for economic and social justice. “The fact that he’s 21 and can still be on my coverage is an important thing.”And Williams says that’s because of the health care law.
http://news.opb.org/article/health-reform-supporters-celebrate-victory-portland/
WASHINGTON-WACAN!
WA Health Care for America Now coalition turned out over 300 people to 10 events around state at AG McKenna’s office. Each event featured personal stories, including people pre-existing conditions, small business, women, nurses, health care providers, uninsured, and young adults staying on parents plan. Events not only generated press coverage themselves, but also leveraged personal story interviews outside of events. Participants delivered letter to McKenna calling on him to end his political attacks on Washingtonian’s health care.
Crosscut.com–Healthcare Supporters Celebrate in Seattle
The Court’s ruling on Thursday (June 28) that the individual mandate, which requires individuals not covered by employer or government insurance plans to maintain minimal essential health insurance, was a boon for many Washingtonians and American citizens in need of medical care, in the crowd’s view. Rachael DeCruz, communications coordinator for Washington Community Action Network (CAN), is delighted with the decision.
“Today the Supreme Court said that the Affordable Care Act is here to stay,” DeCruz said. “It’s a great day for citizens across the country.”
http://crosscut.com/2012/06/29/diversions/109397/health-care-seattle-celebrate-mckenna/
Seattle Times—Crowd happy with court ruling, unhappy with McKenna
Shame on you, Rob McKenna!” 100 supporters of the Affordable Care Act yelled up to Attorney General Rob McKenna ’s high-rise office in downtown Seattle.
Representatives from Healthcare for America Now, Planned Parenthood, Washington Community Action Network and Nurse Alliance, and individuals gathered outside McKenna’s offices throughout the state to let him know they were upset for signing onto the lawsuit that threatened the landmark piece of health-care legislation saved today by the Supreme Court.
Main Street Alliance
Small business leaders from the Main Street Alliance and their state affiliates weighed in and framed the debate in press coverage of the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act. MSA small business leaders shared concrete, personal stories of how the law is helping their businesses and what small businesses can look forward to now that the law has been upheld and will keep moving forward. A compilation of links and excerpts from the coverage can be found here on the MSA website.